Updated Storage Tank Standards and Penalties

Summary#

These are final federal amendments (SOR/2025-167) that update the technical standards referenced in the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations and add a few enforcement designations to the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations. The changes took effect when the instrument was registered on August 28, 2025.

What it does#

• Updates the list of technical standards that storage-tank equipment must meet. The changes mainly:
  • replace outdated standard titles,
  • remove year-dates from standard references so the latest version at time of manufacture can apply,
  • add a new Schedule (Schedule 4) that lists the updated standards incorporated by reference.
• Makes three existing parts of the tank regulations subject to administrative penalties:
  • subsections 2.1(1) and 2.1(3) (fuel releases) are now designated as Type C violations under the EVAMPR,
  • subsection 14(7) (installation requirements) is now designated as a Type B violation.
• States there are no new operational requirements or added costs from these amendments by themselves. The rules come into force on the registration date (August 28, 2025).

Who's affected#

• Owners and operators of federally regulated petroleum and allied petroleum storage tank systems, including:
  • systems on Indigenous land and those owned or run by First Nations or band councils,
  • systems on federal land or run by federal departments or agencies,
  • systems that are part of federal works or undertakings such as railways, port authorities, and airports.
• Small businesses that operate tanks on federal or Indigenous land (the government notes many such systems are run by small businesses).
• Manufacturers and suppliers of storage tanks and tank components, because they can now have equipment certified to more recent standards.

Why it matters#

• It closes a practical compliance gap. People and businesses installing new tanks or parts can use equipment certified to current industry standards without risking non-compliance just because the Regulations named older standard titles.
• For the public and communities near tank sites, the updates support use of modern equipment that meets current technical safety and containment practices.
• Two provisions about fuel releases are now clearly subject to the federal monetary-penalty system, which means enforcement officers can issue administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) for serious release-related breaches. That increases the financial consequences for actions that harm the environment.